Knee-spreader.



I No. 642,734. Patented Feb. 6, I900. S. Y. TRICE.

KNEE SPREADEBS.

(Application filed. May 24, 1897.)

(No Model.)

ami/ masses gJn-mmw ITED STATES PATENT Fries.

SINNETTE Y. TRIOE, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO AGNES M. TRICE,

' OF SAME PLACE.

KNEE-SPREADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 642,734, dated February 6, 1900.

Application filed May 24, 1897. Serial No. 637,885 (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SINNETTE Y. TRICE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, county of Dallas, State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knee-Spreaders, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to devices for preventing horses from knocking their knees with the feet and for controlling the action of the feet. The devices are also intended to give horses knee action by raising the feet quicker and higher than the horses would naturally raise them.

Other objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a detailed view of means for attaching the elastic cord or spring to the foot. Fig. 3 is a detailed view of means for attaching same to the neck-strap. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view in detail of one of the spreaders lying almost fiat.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings the letter A indicates a padded cud which surrounds thelegs,to which are attached padded knee-caps B. The cuffs are carefully padded to prevent chafing of the legs and are supported by straps O, buckled around the legs, and elastic straps D. The latter straps are supported by being attached to the neck-strap E. These straps are attached first together, and then a buckle is attached to them. There are additional straps F for holding the cuffs and caps in place. These straps are attached to the lower parts of the caps B and then to buckles G, attached to the lower parts of the cuffs A. The caps B are curved to conform to the contour of the knees. These caps are so constructed that they will remain curved. Strips are cut out of the sides of the caps, and the gaps thus made are sewed up, making seams a a. One

of the straps D is attached permanently to the cuff A by stitching or otherwise, and the other is attached by means of a button f or otherwise detachably attached.

Brackets H are mounted on cuffs A. These brackets are supported by three braces at, y, and z. the top parts of the ends, and a is attached to the bottom part. The three braces are welded or otherwise attached to a body portion H, constituting a guide or ring for the purpose hereinafter described. These braces are attached to the cuffs in any practical manner. Elastic straps, cords, or springs M are detaehably attached to the neck-strap E by means of brackets N (illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4) and also attached to the feet by means of snap-hooks P or other suitable devices and clips 0, which may be attached to the shoes or hoofs in any suitable way. The brackets N are attached to the neck-strap E by rivets or other convenient means. Sliding bolts or bars R move up and down in slots in these brackets. These slots extend lengthwise the brackets, and the bottom ends are nearer the strap E than the top ends. when the bars R are raised to the top of the slots, the cords M are put between the bars and the back parts of the brackets. Then as the bars come down they willclamp these cords. The farther down thebars come the tighter they clamp the cords. Instead of using the brackets, buckles or suitable means may be used to support the elastic cords M. The elastic cords M consist of inclosed rubber or solid rubber; but coiled or spiral steel springs can be used as Well. Therefore I donot limit myself to rubber. This cord M passes through a hole in bracket or guide H and down to the hoof and is drawn tight enough to hold the foot out when raised. The horse hits the knee with the foot When up. He starts the foot to the front and swings it in and hits the knee while passing. My invention is to hold the foot out and to prevent the inward swing of the foot. The tighter the cord M is drawn the better it holds the foot out. It will now be understood that the knees are doubly protected by the caps 13 and the cords M running through the brackets H. The character A indicates the lining or padding of the cuffs, the padding being larger than the ends. The little semicircles on the upper and lower edges of Fig. 5 represent the edges of the padding.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The braces a: and y are attached to 1. Means for controlling knee action of horses consisting of spring orelastic cords and means for holding said cords in place, said means consisting of a. neck strap having brackets on each side thereof holding the u pper ends of said cords, brackets supported on the legs above the knees for guiding said cords, and means for attaching said cords to the feet.

2. Knee spreaders and protectors consisting of padded cuffs provided with padded caps attached to said cuffs and adapted to shield the knees from strokes of the feet, elastic cords attached to the feet, means for supporting the upper ends of said cords, and guidebrackets for said cord's attached to said cu ifs.

3. Knee'spreaders and knee-action regulators consisting of elastic cords or springs, a

neck-piece provided with bracket-clamps for supporting the upper ends of said cords, guidebrackets mounted on suitable supports attached to the legs of the animal, said supports being adapted to hold said neck-piece in place, and means for attaching said cords to the shoes or to the feet.

4. A knee-spreader having a neck-piece, elastic cords or springs adapted to control the motion of horses feet, said cords or springs being attached to the feet and to said neckpieee, guide-brackets through which said cords or springs pass loosely, said brackets consisting'of guide-pieces supported by pluralities of braces and being adapted to maintain the tension of said cords or springs when the feet are raised in motion, and means for mounting said brackets 011 the legs of the animal about the knees.

5. The combination of knee-caps adapted to protect the knees from strokes of the opposite feet and elastic cords or springs adapted to control the outward and upward motion of the feet, said cords or springs being attached to the outside of the animals feet and supported from the neck of the animal and having means for holding same laterally away from the legs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SINNET"E Y. TRTCE.

Witn esses:

E. 1i. KIRKPATRICK, W. H. CRAIG. 

